Virtual Reality: Wii details

Hello and welcome to the first edition of Virtual Reality where we suck up all the gaming gossip and news and buzz, take in a martini or two and then hurl it straight up without the bullshit. It's kinda like Kirby, if Kirby was on the three-martini lunch.

While not as steady a stream of content as our other features [Teh Suck & the Cool is under retooling] we will bring you a heaping helping of information on the current gaming climate. This week the climate is a victim of a god damn hurricane in the form of the Nintendo Wii's launch details which were unveiled this morning, and for those of you who followed this years E3, it's about damn time.

This information comes out of Japan where Nintendo held a press conference to finally set the record straight, get those pre-orders in full swing and give Sony that extra kick in the ass.

Let's start with the biggies...

The Console

After much teasing and mind games, Nintendo has unveiled the wii to launch on Nov. 19th retailing for $250, just two days after the launch of Sony's Playstation 3. The console, unlike the competition will be served up in a single package; the contents of each will be the following:


• Console unit with stand

• Wireless Wii controller with nunchuck [and strap]


• Sensor Bar with stand


• Wii Sports


• AC Adapter & A/V cable
• 2 AA batteries

The package details and price match information the New York Times article which was leaked yesterday evening. As a nice contrast to the PS3, the Wii will be available in that lone configuration and unlike the Gamecube will be available in only a single color at launch, white.

Aside from the packed in game, at launch the wii will be able to display digital photos through the wii on your T.V. as well as keep you updated with weather reports and browse your favorite websites. Nintendo plans to roll out 6 million Wii' consoles by years end, with the U.S. receiving the majority of those units.

The games

At the press conference Nintendo elaborated on their virtual consoles release cycle and pricing scheme with 10 retro hits arriving every month the pricing is as follow: NES: $5, SNES: $8 and N64: $10. These titles can be purchased via Credit Card or a "Wii points card" [$1 = 1 Wii point]. Launch titles on Nov. 19th include Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong and Legend of Zelda.

The Wii itself will be launching with some 30 titles retailing at an average of $50, $10 below the offerings from Microsoft and Sony. Launch titles will include the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Excite Truck, Trauma Center, Madden 07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Elebits, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Metal Slug Anthology, Rayman: Raving Rabids, Red Steel... possibly more.

The console's first online game will be a new title in the Pokemon franchise which will launch shortly after the Japan llaunch of the Wii on Dec. 2 with the more high profile releases such as Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 seeing release in 2007.

That's it for now, pre-order as you see fit, and good luck with the waiting.